PLANS GET SIDETRACKED

Knight-Ridder/TribuneCHICAGO TRIBUNE

R.H. Macy & Co. has thrown a wrench into plans for a $300 million downtown shopping center in Norfolk, Va., city officials said.

Mayor Paul Fraim stressed that the retailer hasn't given up plans to anchor the proposed MacArthur Center. But without a firm yes from Macy's, Norfolk officials have lined up just one of three anchor tenants they need to break ground on the project. Nordstrom Inc. is the mall's only confirmed anchor.

"Macy's has told us they are simply not ready to come into this market," Fraim said. "We simply can't wait any longer on this."

The city had delayed its opening date for the center from fall 1996 to early 1997.